Pears : production estimates and important commercial districts and varieties

Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

BAITED STATES, DEPARTMENT OF ee

BULLETIN No. 822

Joint Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry
WAL WM.A. TAYLOR, Chief, and the Bureau of Crop
Sa. Estimates, L. M. ESTABROOK Chief.

Washington, D. C. Vv February 25, 1920

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES AND IMPOR-
TANT COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AND VARIETIES.

By H. P. GovutLp, EE of Plant Industry, and FRANK ANDREWS, Bureau of
Crop Estimates.

CONTENTS.
Page. Page.
Relative importance of the pear___ 1 Important commercial districts and
Estimated production of pears_____ 1 varieties, by States—Continued.
Outstanding features of the pear in- West North-Central States____ 8
CHS Li yoo imeem le ae IG. 4 South Atlantic States220-="-- = 9
Important commercial districts and Kast South-Central States_____ ijl
MATLGULE Satay St bese So he 5 West South-Central States ___ 11
New England States__________ 5 Mountain gS tateswes =. eae 13
Middle Atlantic States _______ 6 Pacitick-Statesiait se 2 a aie 14
East North-Central States____ 7 |e Index \of; States22s=2 2220 Dae °16

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE PHAR.

Compared with other fruits when the Thirteenth Census was com-
piled, the pear occupied seventh place in value, being exceeded by the
apple, the peach and nectarine (grouped together), the grape, the
strawberry, the orange, and the plum and prune (grouped together).
It occupied fourth place on the basis of acreage, only the apple, the
peach (and nectarine) and the grape exceeding it. The relative
importance in acreage and value of different fruits in 1909 is shown
graphically in figure 1.

ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF PEARS.

The estimated production of pears for the years 1909 to 1919, in-
clusive, is shown in Table I. These estimates include the entire
crop, no segregation of the commercial production from the total
being made,

139709°—19—Bull. 822 1

SE EET ELLE IE ITNT ~ - — z . prams enna
= : a aa = Sa <= = Sara SunRRA — - ao
i nae S ae eo el eas OE gu GF pete Bes et emo EE Pa es a a NRO AT fyi amet Wns, rai oo Variae i (akeweh Niet fan SAR Bes ne Sgn :
1s aed tam 2 OR OFS Samletes es. Pha A ee ee ial Arak 5 LE FE i SASS TIRED At a Coe EEE PII OSS eal Se #5 phi oS Vue SERVOS Ee oY ak cS Co lapis ae oe
y

ple eS Se a eet et

2 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
4 3 2 1 10 20)° 308 180) 5022.60 2 70) 80
EC 8 = APPLES ==
aos PEACHES & NECTARINES =——
GRAPES
STRAWBERRIES
ORANGES
PLUMS & PRUNES
PEARS
CHERRIES

RASPBERRIES & LOGANBERRIES2S
BLACKBERRIES & DEWBERRIES
LEMONS
APRICOTS
POMELOS
CRANBERRIES

Fig. 1.—Diagram showing the relative importance, acreage, and crop values of the
principal fruits of the United States for the year 1909, based on the report of the
Thirteenth Census. (From the Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for
1915.)

TABLE I.—EHstimated production of peers in the United States for the 11-year
period from 1909 to 1919, inclusive.
{Data in bushels, 000 omitted. The figures for 1909 are those of the Thirteenth Census. The figures for

other years are interpretations of percentage estimates by the Bureau of Crop Estimates, the census
figures being used as the basis.]

| |

Groups and States. | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 } 1917 | 1918

a nh

|
|
|

North Atlantic States:

MOT Coe erate 39 35 42 38 32 40 20
* New Hampshire.... 24 22 24 19 24 22 15
Wermonten see cone 21 23 25 20 20 il? 13
Massachusetts...... 96 94 114 71 121 98 77
Rhode Island....... 12 12 14 11 16 13 10
Connecticutss.c.. 5. 41 46 46 32 55 43 34
INGWAYOEks.25. cee: 1,343 | 1,530 | 1,886 | 1,128 | 2,016 | 1,298 1,352
New Jersey......... 463 910 970 749 598 876 650
Pennsylvania.......] 379 570 646 418 456 608 518
Di) oe Gee nage 2,418 | 3,242 | 3, 767 | 2,486 | 3,338 | 3,015 51 | 3,130 | 2,910 | 2,689 | 2,646
South Atlantic States: | |
Clawares.<c224%).< 5 301 262 315 77 210 238
Manylandaess2- ene 368 609 455 616 224 560 455
jah a) Oe ee eee 74 221 122 282 68 234 119
West Virginia...... 30 49 49 76 itt 72 33
North Carolina. .... 84 164 52 207 58 187 108
South Carolina..... 66 108 52 117 42 109 98
Georgians s. oss ee 150 260 111 212 118 208 188
Oni aer pee 98 153 88 73 58 112 132
Rota pea 975 | 1,865 | 1,191 | 1,898 656 | 1,692 1,371
East North-Central!
States: | |
LOSS eee See | 375 360 | 736 624; 400) 544 560 376 334 304 218
indianas-. fee | 320 292 585 448 474 422 410 351 410 260 188
VOLS. eee rk ee 249 32 499 448 422 422 496 354 456 302 436
Michivan 32 fees 666 456 829 540 707 840 550 | 1,007 | 1,980 704 726
WISCONSIN =o se nee 13 2 18 i3 22 22 23% 26S ee aaa ese eee
Motalesstce cutee 1,623 | 1,142 | 2,667 | 2,073 | 2,025 | 2,250 | 2,039 | 2,114 | 2,280 | 1,570 | 1,568
West North-Central
' States: |
OWA neta 44 1 57 60 102 84 2 106 63 82 32 58
IMISSOURIEN ee eee eee 143 67 148 332 184 | 283 294 164 265 { 112 280
INebraskalsceeeee eee 7 4 10 15 13 14 18 10 | 14 6 16
Kansas nce. aveeee 19 98 7 142} 63] 109 133 106 140 38 126
Motal: sea eee 213 170 285 49 | 362 | 490 551 343 501 188 474

a

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, ETC. 3

TaRLy 1.—ZHstimated production of pears in the United States, etc.—Continued.

Groups and States. 1909 | 1910 | 1911 |} 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919

entuck yee once ae 252 180 160 336 160 308 264 160 204 140 128
Tennessee....-..-.. 84 126 32 196 79 152 195 59 75 112 72
iNlabamas: 24 sees - 100 138 48 172 90 132 168 90 80 152]. 114
Mississippi......... 101 140 40 154 106 142 160 50 30 136 95
Wouisianass: 50235 oe 36 32 24 52 48 52 55 48 52 52 50
SROKA eta tas Anne 111 224 147 296 187 266 301 322 280 246 385
Oklahomatsss2. 22: 7 28 33 54 23 28 68 11 45 38 70
PAT KANSASeeee eae 38 46 47 113 55 98 135 68 102 64 98

Ota ere ce 729 914 531 | 1,373 748 | 1,178 | 1,346 808 868 940 | 1,012

Far Western States:

Montanae=s) 45.4425 Sle Seka 11 12 10 12 12 6 11 6 11
@oloradot en ps soe. 133 121 160 193 130 206 99 99 320 194 180
New Mexico........ 29 30 43 52 46 60 64 36 46 56 67
Arizona Rea 13 14 16 20 17 20 22 18 21 19 22
Oita s: ea ek 39 41 51 52 42 56 31 12 48 51 47
IN(GK AG IA Eo Be eee 4 7 2 8 6 7 4 2 6 6 5
HAAN OWE warm 8s 43 62 65 81 71 66 75 50 70 60 70
Washington........ 311 396 372 477 464 536 564 551 595 | 1,300 | 1,700
Orerontee. 25 ees 375 540 44] 554 559 540 525 555 600 672 553
Californiaes 452 2-65 1,928 | 1,887 | 1,848 | 2,015 | 1,634 | 1,958 | 1,650 | 3,124 | 3,523 | 3,871 | 4,086
MOtalSerm sce... 2,883 | 3,098 | 3,009 | 3,464 | 2,979 | 3,461 | 3,046 | 4,453 | 5,240 | 6,235 | 6,751

United States (grand
ppt ak tas ter. 8,841 |10, 431 |11, 450 ye 843 |10, 108 |12,086 |11,216 |11, 874 [13,281 12,993 |13, 628

The annual variation in the pear crop for the years covered by
Table I (1909 to 1917) is shown graphically in figure 2.

PRODUCTION LV SUILL/IONS OF BUSSTFLS
SLAP —LICKSSPVE LS PNB Bi Sin 7 IT DO ZOU s YE,

44,276, OOO EERE an
JL, OFF OO O EERE IE RTE TRE
Lg 2E4, OOO

Fie. 2,—Diagram showing the annual farm production of pears (in bushels) in
the United States for the 9-year period from 1909 to 1917, inclusive. The esti-
mated farm crop of pears in the United States for 1918 was 10,342,000 bushels ;
for 1919 (October estimates), 13,687,000 bushels. The estimates of the com-
mercial (in distinction from the farm or agricultural) crop for the past two
years are: 1918, 7,589,000 bushels; 1919 (November estimates), 8,422,900
bushels.

Figure 3 shows in a strikingly clear manner the average annual
production of pears (in bushels, by States) for the 5-year period,
1912 to 1916, inclusive. As will appear in considering the distribu-
tion of the industry, occasional commercial orchards of more or less
importance are found in a large proportion of the States, but those
in which the industry is of more than local importance are few in
number. The commercial industry is located very largely in those
States which are shown in figure 3 to have an average annual yield

——————————————

Se ee
SET

4 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

of 450,000 bushels or more, though in several other States, as, for
example, Colorado, Utah, Delaware, Texas, and Illinois, there are
places where the pear orchards are of more than local importance.

OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE PEAR INDUSTRY.

The census figures for 1890, 1900, and 1910 show (in round num-
bers) 5,100,000, 17,700,000, Pe 24 000, 000 pear trees of all ages in the
country, aid AAdiba ie a rather constant and considerable increase

ee Ey OT from year to year.
OALA. 137,000 BY. rene rees re-
UTAH \|39,000 BU. O he LEIS A
COMM. : 42,000 BU. corded in 1910, about
LA. 15% 000 BL.

NMIVEX. a 52,000 BU. 8,800,000 were ~ re-
A Oe ported as not of
10AHO | |69,00084 Z +
FLA. |_| 60,000 BY. bearing age. No
SOWA | 182.0008v. mae tgs é pete
Se | (iaccasy similar segregation
ARE: | 94,000 BU. of trees of bearing
TASS. | 96000 BY.

“ANS. [_]| 770,000 BU. : and nonbearing age
PUSS. | 22,000 BYU.

was made in the
census reports of

coLo. |__|/4%5000 BU, 1890 and 1900.

G4. | _|7275000 Bu

VA. |. «| 493,000 BU FAIRLY CONSTANT TO-
QEL 199,000 BU.

TAL PRODUCTION.

hoe yy. PELOLOEE
(eK It igen coas | he estimates of
IND. |4240008U. production shown in
fost Table I and in fig-
Benn: | cure 2 indicate a
WASH: fairly constant yield
oak eo 08 ou - for the country since
PEE) A a eae 1910. While the
one. growing of pears

ALL OTHER STATES {_| /26;000 BU. for commercial pur-

Fie, 3.—Diagram showing the estimated annual average POS€S has been (S205
farm production of pears in the principal pear-producing =
States for the 5-year period from 1912 to 1916, inclusive. tend ed a recent
The average yearly production for the entire United States years 1n some locali-

for this period was 11,425,000 bushels. ties and the industry
has been newly established in a few regions, it is also true that many
orchards planted for commercial purposes have been destroyed dur-
ing the last two decades. The conclusion, therefore, is that the in-
creases in the number of trees shown by succeeding census reports
are made up principally of trees that ee home interests rather
than commercial activities.

MENACE OF FIRE-BLIGHT.

To those familiar with the situation, the outstanding feature in
pear growing is the menace of fire-blight. This disease, doubtless

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, ETC. 5

more than any other factor, restricts the planting of pears, and in
the past it has destroyed great numbers of trees and caused the
abandonment of commercial enterprises in many places.

OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND INDUSTRY NOT GREAT.

Another factor that needs to be considered critically by prospec-
tive pear growers is the comparative edse with which the market de-
mand can be supplied. Pears are used in quantity in only a few
ways. They are consumed in the fresh state and are canned. In
California they are also dried. Otherwise comparatively little use
is made of them. The market demand for a fruit that is used in
only a very small number of ways is satisfied with a much smaller
supply than is the case with a fruit that is used in many different
ways. ‘Thus, there is not so large an opportunity in the extension of
commercial pear growing as for some other fruits.

” PROMINENCE OF THE BARTLETT AND KIEFFER PEARS.

Among pear varieties, the relative prominence of two sorts—the
Bartlett and the Kieffer—is conspicuous. These two varieties are
to the pear industry of the country what the Elberta variety is to
the peach industry, the Washington Navel to the California orange
industry, and the Baldwin, Winesap, and Ben Davis varieties to the
apple industry. Throughout the northern pear-growing districts,
in the Intermountain States and on the Pacific coast, the Bartlett is by
far the most widely and extensively planted variety. The Kieffer
is also planted, both commercially and for home use, in many of
these districts; while in middle latitudes and in the South the
Kieffer very largely predominates, because of the comparative re-
sistance of the tree to blight. Further information in regard to
the distribution of varieties is given in the pages that follow.

IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AND VARIETIES,
BY STATES.

NEW ENGLAND STATES.
MAINE.

Distribution.—No important centers of pear production occur in
Maine; but occasional orchards of small size are located in several
counties in the southern part of the State, including York, Oxford,
Cumberland, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox,
Waldo, and possibly in certain localities in the southern sections of
the counties to the north of those named.

Varieties ——The varieties commonly planted include the Bartlett,
Clapp Favorite, Sheldon, Anjou, Seckel, Bosc, Lawrence, and pos-
sibly a few others.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Distribution—Pears in New Hampshire are negligible from a
commercial standpoint, and but few are grown for home use. These
occur mostly in the southern part of the State.

6 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

V arieties—Bartlett, Sheldon, Howell, Flemish (Flemish Beauty),

and possibly others are grown.

VERMONT.

Distribution.—Pear growing in Vermont is unimportant commer-
cially, but trees are rather widely distributed, especially in the Lake
Champlain district and in Windham County in the southern part of
the State.

Varieties —Bartlett, Clapp Favorite, Howell, Sheldon, Flemish
(Flemish Beauty), Lawrence, and Winter Nelis are BUR Sh

sorts in this State.
MASSACHUSETTS.

Distribution.—In an earlier day, eastern Massachusetts was famous
for its amateur pear growers. The principal pear interests of the
State are still located in that section, especially in the eastern part
of Middlesex County in the vicinity of Belmont, Arlington, Concord,
and other points not far from Boston. Worcotent is also a center of
some production.

Varieties—The principal varieties include the Bartlett, Bosc,
Clapp Favorite, Sheldon, Seckel, Danas Hovey, and Anjou.

RHODE ISLAND.
DPistribution.—Pears are grown for home and local use, through-
out most of Rhode Island, but there are no centers of large produc-
tion.

V arieties.—Bartlett, Sheldon, and Seckel are the more common -

sorts.
CONNECTICUT.

Distribution.—There are no communities which are centers of

pear production in Connecticut, and the aggregate of the commer-
cial interests is small. There is one large orchard in the extreme
southwestern part of the State and small interests in other towns
in the same general region, while trees occur in most sections through-
out the State.

V arieties.—Bartlett, Anjou, Seckel, and ieaer are the mors com-

mon sorts.
MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES.

NEW YORK.

Distribution.—New York is second only to California in pear pro-
duction. The commercial interests are located principally in three
regions. The largest one is the Lake Ontario district, which include;
a large portion of Niagara, Orleans. Monroe, and Oswego Counties,
and smaller parts of Cayuga and Onondaga Counties. Pears are
also grown in the “ finger-lake ” region in the central western part
of the State and in the Hudson River valley. In the latter, the prin-
cipal areas are in Columbia and Greene Counties, and smaller inter-
ests are found northward in Albany and Renssclaer Counties and

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, ETC. oe Vee

southward in Dutchess and Ulster Counties. Pears are also grown to
some extent on Long Island and for home use in many parts of the
State.

Varieties.—As in many other States, the Bartlett is the most im-
portant variety. Others commonly planted include Clapp Favorite,
Bosc, Howell, Angouleme, Anjou, Seckel, Lawrence, and Kieffer. In
some orchards in the Hudson River valley, where the soil 1s sandy, the
Bosc has not done well. The conviction prevails that it requires a
fairly heavy soil in order to succeed.

NEW JERSEY.

Distribution—Commercial pear orchards occur in considerable
numbers in certain sections of New Jersey, the principal interests
centering about Moorestown, Beverly, and Riverton in Burlington
County, Merchantville in Camden County, Glassboro in Gloucester
County, and at various other points in these and other counties in
the central part of the State. Most of the centers of production are
within a comparatively short distance of Philadelphia, and a con-
siderable proportion of the fruit is marketed there. In production
New Jersey ranks third on a 5-year average (fig. 3).

Varicties—In many orchards the Kieffer has been largely planted,
but varieties of better dessert quality, including the Bartlett, Angou-
leme (Duchess), Seckel, and Lawrence, are also grown commercially.
The Sheldon, Vermont Beauty, and Anjou are grown to some extent
for home use.

-

PENNSYLVANIA.

ll-developed centers of pear pro-

duction in Pennsylvania. Pears are grown to a limited extent about
Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and some of the other cities of importance,
and more or less widely for home use.

Varieties.—The widely grown varieties, such as the Bartlent Seckel,
Lawrence, and Kieffer, are most connie planted.

EAST NORTH-CENTRAL STATES.

OHIO.

Distvibution.—The commercial pear interests in Ohio are small.
Some orchards cccur in the lake region in Lucas, Ottawa, Cuyahoga,
and Lake Counties. Otherwise the pears grown are mostly for
home and local use. The aggregate production, however, is con-
siderable (fig. 3). -

Varieties—The Bartlett and Kieffer are the principal sorts.

INDIANA.

Distribution.—Little attention is given to pear growing in In-
diana. The industry is restricted practically to rather unimportant
home plantings.

Varieties—Such varieties as the MWieffer, Bartlett, Flemish
(Flemish Beauty), Tyson, and Sheldon are represented.

Ss se Aaa RE ee SS aa

ae = ——=— ~ — —— =. —— > cictaltn es = = = > ' > r > - ~ a:
UES ci SONN Wise A Ca Na Pe ANS! Ge A a lis he ea ig feo SOB ak

3 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ILLINOIS.

Distribution.—Most of the pear orchards in Illinois are located
in the southern third of the State, with the principal centers of pro-
duction in Marion, Clay, and Union Counties.

Varieties—The Kieffer is the most important variety; a few
Garber, Howell, Angouleme (Duchess), and possibly other sorts
also are grown.

MICHIGAN.

Distribution—The largest commercial pear interests in Michigan
are in the southwestern part of the State, in Berrien, Van Buren,
and Aegan Counties; but pears are grown in practically all the
counties bordering on Lake Michigan and in Oakland and McComb
Counties in the southeastern part of the State. They are grown in
nearly all counties for home use.

Varieties—While the Bartlett leads in importance, a considerable
number of varieties are grown in the commercial orchards in Michi-
gan. Among them are the Clapp Favorite, Clairgeau, Howell, Bosc,
Danas Hovey, Seckel, Angouleme, Anjou, Kieffer, and several
others. The early ripening sorts include Summer Doyenne, Giffard,
and Bloodgood.

WISCONSIN.

Practically no pears are grown in Wisconsin.

WEST NORTH-CENTRAL STATES.
MINNESOTA,
Practically no pears are grown in Minnesota.
IOWA.

Distribution.—Pear growing is a negligible factor in the fruit in-
dustry of Iowa. This is due largely to the destructiveness of blight, —
while in the northern part the severity of the winter conditions is
also a decidedly limiting factor, few varieties being sufficiently hardy
to withstand them. |

Vareties—In Extension Bulletin 27 (revised) of the Icwa State
College of Agriculture the La Motte (Bezi de la Motte), Warner,
Seckel, Anjou, Kieffer, Longworth, and Flemish (//emish Beauty)
varieties are reported to have shown a considerable degree of hardi-
ness and resistance to blight in some localities in Iowa.

MISSOURI.

Distribution—There are no very important centers ef pear pro-
duction in Missouri, but small commercial interests are reported in
several counties, including St. Louis, LGU SS Buchanan, Jack-
son, Greene, and Howell.

Varieties—The Kieffer is the principal variety, but the Garber,
Angouleme, Seckel, Anjou, and possibly others are grown.

NORTH DAKOTA.

Practically no pears are grown in North Dakota.

.

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, ETC. 9

SOUTH DAKOTA.

Distribution.—Practically no pears are grown in South Dakota.
A few pear trees occur in Union, Clay, Yankton, and Bon Homme
Counties, which border on the Missouri River in the southeastern
part of the State; they are rarely found elsewhere.

V arieties.—In ‘general, the measure of success with all varieties
tried has been so small as to discourage the planting of pears in
this State.

NEBRASKA.

Distribution—A few pear orchards are located in southeastern
Nebraska in the counties bordering on the Missouri River as far
north as the northern border of Washington County; also in Johnson
and Pawnee Counties in the second tier from the river in the
extreme southeastern part of the State. Elsewhere in the State
pear trees are seldom found.

Varieties—No variety is preeminent, though the Kieffer prob-
ably occurs more frequently than any other. Garber, Bartlett, and
Seckel are also grown.

KANSAS.

Distiibution—Small plantings are widely distributed, especially
throughout the eastern half of the State of Kansas. The com-
mercial interests are small; but a few orchards are located in the
four or five northeasternmost counties of the State north of the
Kansas River and in Reno, Sedgwick, Sumner, and Cowley Counties
in the Arkansas Valley. A few orchards also occur in the eastern
part of the State, in the counties bordering the Kansas River on the
south.

Varieties—Several varieties are included in the plantings, such as
the Keffer, Garber, Clapp Favorite, Angouleme (Duchess), Seckel,
and Douglas. The last-named variety originated in Kansas in Doug-
Jas County.

SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES.
DELAW ARE.

Distribution.—Pear growing is very generally distributed in Dela-
ware, though considerably more than half the total production is
accredited to Kent County. Important areas of production center
about Bridgeville, Milford, Camden, Smyrna, and Middletown.

Varieties —The Kieffer comprises the commercial crop. It is
usually considered essential to plant a small proportion of other
varieties to insure adequate cross-pollination of the blossoms. The
Le Conte and Garber varieties are commonly used for this purpose.

MARYLAND.

Distribution—A good many orchards of commercial size occur in
the Eastern Shore counties, Kent, Queen Annes, and Caroline prob-

1See the Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for 1912, p. 267.
139709° —19—Bull. 822 2

Se

10 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
ably leading. Isolated orchards of importance are also found in

other localities, including Anne Arundel, Carroll, Washington, and
other counties.

Varieties—The bulk of the fruit consists of the Kieffer, but trees _

of the Le Conte, Garber, Bartlett, Seckel, Angouleme, Anjou, and a
few other varieties are occasionally found.
VIRGINIA.

Distribution.—As in many other States, pear trees are widely dis-
tributed, being found in nearly all parts of Virginia, but there are
very few commercial orchards and no centralized pear industry.
Some car-lot shipments are made from Frederick County.

Varieties —The Kieffer predominates, but the Garber, Le Conte,
Bartlett, Seckel, Sheldon, Lawrence, and some other sorts are some-
times grown.

WEST VIRGINIA.

Distribution.—Very few pears are grown in West Virginia and
there are no centers of production.

Varieties —The Kieffer is found more frequently than any other

sort.
NORTH CAROLINA.

Distribution.—The pear is negligible in the fruit industry of North
Carolina, though trees are grown more or less in many sections.

Varieties—The Wieffer is the variety most frequently planted.
The Le Conte and Garber varieties are also grown. »

SOUTH CAROLINA.

Distribution —The prevalence of blight has largely restricted the
planting of pears, but they are grown in small plantings in most
parts of the State.

Varieties —The sand-pear hybrid group, including the Kieffer, Le
Conte, and Garber, comprises practically all the varieties that are
planted.

GEORGIA.

Distribution—Pears are relatively unimportant in Georgia.
Orchards and small plantings are located in many parts of the State,
and are perhaps of rather greater importance than elsewhere in the
southwestern portion, in Grady, Thomas, Brooks, Dougherty, Worth,
Crisp, and some other counties.. Commercial shipments are made
from points in some of these counties.

Varieties —The Kieffer is the principal variety; some Le Conte, a
few Garber, and several others of the sand-pear hybrid group also
are grown.

FLORIDA.

Distribution.—In the northern and Panhandle regions of Florida
there are some 10 or 12 counties in each of which the pear produc-
tion, according to the Thirteenth Biennial Report (1913-14) of the

ee a a

f

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, ETC. 11

State Department of Agriculture, ranged from about 1,200 to more
than 3,200 barrels. Pears are widely distributed in the State, but
the interests are too small to be of any special importance. The
prevalence of pear blight doubtless has greatly restricted production
in this and other Southern States. |

Varieties —The Kieffer and Le Conte comprise most of the plant-
ings.

= EAST SOUTH-CENTRAL STATES.

KENTUCKY.

Distribution—A few pears are grown in Jefferson County and in
some other counties along the Ohio River in Kentucky, while small
plantings are distributed throughout the State. Even in the aggre- -
gate, however, the quantity of fruit grown is small.

Varieties—The Kieffer and Garber represent practically the total
production.

TENNESSEE.

Distribution.—Pears are produced in but very small quantities in
Tennessee, though trees are found in small numbers in most sections
of the State.

Varieties —The plantings are confined mostly to the ree Gar-
ber, and Le Conte varieties.

ALABAMA,

Distribution.—Pears are grown here and there throughout the
State of Alabama, but not commercially.

Varieties—The ee is the principal variety. Other varieties
of the sand-pear hybrid group, which includes the Le Conte, Garber,
and several others, are occasionally planted, especially to provide
pollen for fertilizing the Kieffer.

MISSISSIPPI.

Distribution.—Pears are planted more or less widely in the State
of Mississippi, but there are no important centers of production. The
prevalence of blight doubtless has greatly restricted the growing of
this fruit.

Varieties—The Kieffer and Le Conte are practically the only
varieties found.

WEST SOUTH-CENTRAL STATES.

ARKANSAS.

Distribution—Very few pears are grown in Arkansas. An occa-
sional orchard has been planted in the peach and apple growing sec-
tions, and a few fairly large orchards are located in thé southern
part of the State.

Varieties —Largely the Kieffer, Le Conte, and Garber, and occa-
sionally other varieties of the sand-pear hybrid group are planted.

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Sp SAA ER VARA a RT STREP IST BL STN SE SO a te Nk at

LS LET TID 5 — A SE:
Se A afro us Ta i aS

12 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

LOUISIANA.

Distribution.—Pears are grown in Louisiana for home use only.
Variettes.—Kieffer, Le Conte, Garber, and Koonce are the varie-

ties planted.
OKLAHOMA,

Distribution.—An occasional commercial orchard has been planted
in the central and eastern portions of Oklahoma, but there are no
centers where pear growing forms an important community interest.

Varieties—The Kieffer is the principal variety grown commer-
cially, but there are plantings which include the Garber, Bartlett,
Angouleme (Duchess), and several other sorts of minor importance.

TEXAS.

Distribution.—While pears in considerable quantity are grown in
Texas, the producing areas with few exceptions are rather indefinite
and correspondingly difficult to define. Probably the most important
district for commercial production, potentially at least, is the upper
Rio Grande Valley, where, within a distance of 40 miles of El Paso,
a great many pear trees have been planted during recent years. Some
of the orchards have come into bearing. This district is irrigated
from the reservoir made by the Elephant Butte Dam.

Another region in western Texas in which fruit interests, including
pear growing on a small scale, are being developed, is located in the
sue region of Stockton, Pecos County, embracing adjacent parts
of four cot inties, Pecos, Reeves, Jeff Davis, and Brewster. The
topography is broken and mountainous, the altitudes of some of the
peaks in J reff Davis County ranging from 5,000 to more than 8,090
feet, though the higher elevations are not ‘included within the fruit-
producing area.

In the Panhandle region, pear trees are general; but they repre-_
sent no important commercial activities.

In the northern portion of the State, extending eastward from the
Panhandle region and including an area three to four counties in
width, there are grown a good many pears in the aggregate. Some
commercial production occurs.

The remaining portions of the State are unimportant from the
standpoint of pear production, but trees and an occasional orchard
are found widely distributed.

Some years ago many orchards were planted in the Gulf coast
region, but most of these proved unsatisfactory because of the preva-
lence of blight.

Varietics——In the El] Paso district the Bartlett has been largely
planted. This, and a few others of the choicer varieties, also the
Kieffer, have been planted in the Panhandle region. In other parts
of the State, the Kieffer is the principal variety, but the Le Conte,
Garber, Smith, and other sorts are also found.

f

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, BTC. 13

MOUNTAIN STATES.

MONTANA.

Distribution —There is little or no commercial pear growing in
Montana. The climate in the eastern sections of the State is too
severe, while blight has been a serious obstacle in maintaining such
plantings as have been made in the Bitter Root and other valleys in
the western part of the State where fruit-growing interests have
been developed.

V arieties—Such varieties as the Bartlett and Flemish (F lemish
Beauty) are reported to do well in the western districts, aside from
- their susceptibility to blight.

IDAHO.

Distribution.—There is a small commercial production of pears
in Idaho, principally in the Payette Valley, the Boise Valley, Council
Valley, and the Lewiston district. These names signify in general
the location of the regions. In limited quantities pears are also
grown in most of the other fruit-producing valleys of the State.

Varieties—The Bartlett variety predominates, but others, includ-
ing the Flemish (Flemish Beauty), Anjou, Winter Nelis, How rell,
Clairgeau, and Kieffer, are also planted.

WYOMING,

Distribution—While there 1s no pear industry in Wyoming, a
very few trees are found in the same districts as the apple. Such
apple orchards as have been planted are principally in the valley of
the Bighorn River and its tributaries in Bighorn, Washakie, and Hot
Springs Counties; in the valley of the Platte River in Natrona,
Converse, Platte, and Goshen Counties; and in more or less isolated
locations in Cues Johnson, and enonden Counties in the north-
eastern part of the State.

Varieties—Information regarding the adaptability of varieties is
obviously meager. The Kieffer and Flemish (Flemish Beauty)
probably are planted more frequently than any other sorts.

@

COLORADO.

Distribution.—Pears are grown to a limited extent in most of the
irrigated valleys of Colorado where fruit interests have been de-
veloped, but the commercial orchards are located chiefly in the
Canyon City district in Fremont County and in the Grand Valley
in Mesa County.

Varieties—The most important variety is the Bartlett, but the
Anjou, Sheldon, Seckel, Lawrence, Winter Nelis, Kieffer, and some
others are grown.

NEW MEXICO.

Distribution.—Though pears are of secondary importance com-
mercially in New Mexico, they are grown more or less in several val-
leys in which a fruit industry has been developed. The principal

SS oe SS Ee ee a SS a eS mane - = ae — ———- --— —~ a =
wast re es ae aE 3 nae eee Saree aaa av aa ey = Ses Oe SE SE ee ee SET

14 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

districts in which pears occur are as follows: The Mimbres Valley
district, mostly in Luna County; the Rio Grande Valley district, ex-
tending from the southern border of the State as far north as the
northern part of Santa Fe County; the Otero County district in the
northern part of the county of that name; the Lincoln County dis-
trict, represented by several small valleys converging toward the
southeastern part of that county; the Pecos Valley district, which
extends through Eddy County and as far north as Roswell in Chaves
County ; the Portales district in the eastern part of Roosevelt County,
a recently developed fruit-growing section; and the San Juan County
district, located along the San Juan River in the northern part of
the county.

Varieties.—The varieties commonly grown are the Bartlett, Clapp
Favorite, Anjou, and Winter Nelis.

ARIZONA.

Distribution.—Pears are grown in Arizona only to a very limited
extent, but they occur more or less widely throughout the agricultural
sections of the State, and more especially in the Salt River Valley in
Maricopa County east of Phoenix and in the Gila Valley in the
central part of Graham County.

- Varicties—The principal varieties are the Bartlett, Winter Nelis,
and Kieffer.
UTAH.

Distribution.—The pear-producing districts of Utah correspond
rather closely with those apple districts which are south of Ogden,
blight having destroyed most of the plantings made in previous years
in the districts north of that city. The most important pear district,
however, centers about Provo, in Utah County. In this district the
orchards are located in the Utah Lake Valley along the streams fiow-
ing out of the Wasatch Mountains into that lake. In Weber, Davis,
and part of Salt Lake Counties orchards are likewise found in the
valleys of the smail streams which come from the Wasatch Range
and which empty into Salt Lake, while south of Salt Lake City or-
chards occur in the Jordan Valley.

Varieties—The more important varieties are the Bartlett, Anjou,
Winter Nelis, Lawrence, and Flemish (/lemish Beauty).

NEVADA. :

Practically no pears are grown in Nevada.

PACIFIC STATES.

WASHINGTON.

Distribution —Pears are of considerable commercial importance in
Washington. They are grown principally in the irrigated valleys
where apple and other fruit interests have been developed. The
largest production is in the Yakima Valley in Yakima and Benton:
Counties. The Wenatchee Valley, with the interests centering about

f

PEARS: PRODUCTION ESTIMATES, ETC. 15

the town of Wenatchee, but with some car-lot production at most of
the other fruit-shipping stations, is second in importance. Small
commercial interests have been developed in the Walla Walla dis-
trict, in the Okanogan Valley, in the Puget Sound region at various
points, and in certain localities in Clarke and Klickitat .Counties.

Varieties —The Bartlett is the variety most extensively grown.
Other commercial sorts include the Clapp Favorite, White Doyenne,
Flemish (Flemish Beauty), Bose, Clairgeau, Comice, Seckel, Anjou,
and Winter Nelis.

OREGON.

Distribution—Pears are of commercial importance in practically
all the fruit-growing districts of Oregon. The most important dis-
trict, with several thousand acres devoted to this fruit, is in the
Rogue River valley, centering about Medford in Jackson County.
Several centers of much smaller production are located in the Wil-
lamette Valley, in Douglas, Polk, and Marion Counties, and else-
where; in the Hood River valley; in the Milton-Freewater district;
and in the Grande Ronde Valley m the northeastern part of the
State.

VarieTies.—In the Rogue River valley several varieties enter into
the industry, the Bartlett, Howell, Clairgeau, Bosc, Comice, Anjou,
and Winter Nelis being the most important. Several of these va-
rieties, especially the Bartlett, Anjou, and Winter Nelis, are also
grown in most of the other districts. The Clapp Favorite, Flemish
(Flemish Beauty), and Kieffer occur in some of the orchards in the
northeastern sections of the State. A number of other sorts are
planted on a scale sufficient to suggest a wide range of adaptability
of most of the commercial varieties commonly listed by nurserymen.

CALIFORNIA.

Distribution—While pears are widely grown throughout most
parts of California, the commercial industry is more or less cen-
tralized. As reported by the California State Commission of Horti-
eulture (Monthly Bulletin, vol. 5, No. 3, 1916), the counties named
in Table I], with acreages in pears indicated, lead in importance.

TABLE II.—Leading pear-producing counties in California, showing acreages in
bearing and nonbearing pear trees in 1915.

Area in pear Area in pear
orchards (acres). orchards (acres).
County. we seh County. i
: Non- . p Non-
ie bearing Beeung bearing
age. Sih age.
Weaice ema Rei oe ee 1, 460 TOOT Ballaremie 8 ei Ss oN el 1,000 230
RACED s66) cian negro te Noe BU | Pape aren SUMO ton. Fae One eee | 1, 097 554
Sacra Mentone sees 3, 000 2 OOOKpOSPAmIPelesme se ana-potele ne le 311 2, 388

Santa Clara:) Aer hie on 1, 400 185 |} San Luis Obispo..........-... 75 3, 285

$$

ee a So

5 > ag = a

!

16 BULLETIN 822, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

While the last two counties named in Table II are unimportant

from the standpoint of present production, the acreages of trees of
nonbearing age in those counties are larger than in any others in the
State. Several other counties having a relatively small production
at present contain from 900 to 1,500 acres of trees not of bearing age.
A large total-acreage, however, may be made up of a great number
of small noncommercial plantings, while a few hundred acres made
up of several comparatively large plantings may make a community
interest of considerable commercial significance.

Varieties —The Bartlett variety so largely predominates in nearly
all sections of California, both for shipping fresh and for drying,
that it may be said practically to constitute the pear industry of the
State. It is also the principai variety used for canning. In some sec-
tions the Angouleme, Clairgeau, Comice, Easter, P. Barry, Winter
Nelis, and a few others are grown.

INDEX OF STATES.

Page Page.
AN Eee e ene Seem ten SS ee ETP ANG bra slat 2 0 ia cea ye 9
RET OM a Serene Sh Seton) ee Tee 14°) Nevada _8)S2) 2 298 ae ee ee 14
Arkansas ____ Est aS eae i | New. Hampshire 2 22222 Sa 5)
GalLfornig 2) ae ca. To: New” Tersey 222. "2 Seve ee f
Coloradoss 22 e SeEN Os |S 13° | New ‘Mexico? 43 5tnp aes 13
CONNECEICUULE Ss. eat eek Eis LSS 6?) New Morkcs - Bia) 7 Lt Sie eee 6
Delaware ______ eas Geet ae 9:.| (North Carolinaie 325 2a 10
ED) VO DEI(0 1 Vina lee Oe see ere EE apa oe 10 -| North Dakotas 22 Aste. Veaeees 8
CEO Claes rete ieee. ae LO" | OWiO2 22 26 Be eee 4
Fanos oe bie 22 pean LS” + OkKlanGma cee a ee 12
PROG eee 8 ree A) 8? Oregon 2-5" eos eee 15
1 TDG a Yate EL ee eee le re 7-| "Pennsylvania. 2 ae 7
Oneal Pi BD 8. | Rhode Tslandeas = est ae 6
VERS SS Sea Ea ce a 9 | South) Carolinas 55 sss5 eee 10
Reniill Chayg tees ie 2 he erected. te il | South -Dakota= =.= eae 9
houisrang 2 = es i ih Se ES 12; |, Mennessee: «| + .- dienes t gee ee 11
WESUT iS RS eS SS se ee 2 eee 5 | Texas {2-25 teal 12
VEIT ViLcOEI Ce eerereaes Mekee 88 cers 5 9.) Utah 2 2) ae eee 14
Massachusetts_________ ba a 6.| Vermont.) “os se eee 6
VET Rp eae ee ee Bate SI de ie TRIE SS Vie tia, 2 ae ei ge ee 10
METI OS 08) So 22 Ss Sa ol ad Se 87) Washine ton’. + Seen eee 14
VEESSISGUD Pee ot ae ee ee 1 West. Virginia.. 22.2 eau eee 10
VET SS OUERLE Ss a tes 2 eye eee a 8°] Wisconsin.) = 2202 ee ee eee 8
Montana see eer eee IBEW yoMmine, tS ee ee 13

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